356 | Rebuilding After Tragedy: Four Cubs Farm's Story of Resilience
When a devastating barn fire destroyed the heart of Four Cubs Farms in November 2017, the Peterson family faced a decision that would shape the future of their business for generations to come. In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen continues her conversation with Gary and Cris Peterson, Ben Peterson, and Dairy Manager Nathan Brandt as they reflect on one of the most difficult days in the farm's history—and how it became the catalyst for transformation.
From the overwhelming support of neighbors and fellow dairy producers to rebuilding with robotic milking technology, the team shares how resilience, innovation, and a willingness to embrace change helped them emerge stronger than before. The conversation explores how data-driven decision making, animal welfare, technology adoption, and strategic growth are helping Four Cubs Farms remain competitive while preparing for its 150th anniversary and the next generation of leadership.
This episode is sponsored by Compeer Financial.
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Their dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs.
02:00 – The day the barn fire changed everything
04:00 – Moving cows and saving the herd during the crisis
06:00 – Community support and the dairy industry's response
07:00 – Rebuilding after the fire and making a major decision
08:00 – Choosing robotic milking technology
10:00 – Bringing cows home and transitioning to robots
12:00 – How the robotic dairy is organized today
14:00 – Collecting and using data to improve performance
16:00 – Measuring return on investment through data
18:00 – Data, profitability, and continuous improvement
20:00 – Solving challenges through real-time insights
22:00 – Staying competitive in a changing dairy industry
23:00 – Cow behavior, stocking density, and robot efficiency
25:00 – Labor, technology, and future dairy strategies
27:00 – Growth plans and expansion opportunities
28:00 – Building the next generation of the herd
30:00 – Celebrating 150 years of family farming
32:00 – Looking ahead to the future of Four Cubs Farms
33:00 – Lessons in resilience, leadership, and perseverance
